Shoe and foot aesthetic and circulatory enhancements

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a customized shoe and foot aesthetic apparatus which can be detached and attached to various shoes of the user so that a custom aesthetically pleasing apparatus which may interface with standard manufactured shoes, and create an enhanced aesthetically pleasing appearance to the individual user is created.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Ser. No. 61/489,192 filed May 23, 2011 the entire content is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention generally relates to the customization of footwear and more specifically to customized aesthetic and circulatory enhancements for shoes.

2. Background Information

Fashion and customization of what is worn by any given individual is highly personal, as each individual has their own very unique tastes. This is especially true when it comes to footwear. Although manufacturers make many kinds of shoes and variations with colors and materials they are still relatively mass produced and unable to take an individual's personal aesthetic preferences into consideration. Additionally, enhancements made by the manufacturers are typically permanently affixed.

Unfortunately, a customized shoe and foot aesthetic apparatus which can be detached and attached to various shoes of the user has not been described. Thus a need exists for custom aesthetically pleasing apparatus which may interface with standard manufactured shoes, and create an enhanced aesthetically pleasing appearance to the individual user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the idea of taking common mass-produced footwear and enhancing its utility by the incorporation of a shoe/jewelry type apparatus which creates an aesthetic upgrade to common shoes and sandals.

Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus including attachable jewels, stones, beads, ribbons, laces, threading, polished woods, crystals, glasses and metals and other similar decorative materials and first attaching them to the shoe to be worn and then easily attaching them around the ankle of the user when used in sandals or open-toed shoes and/or high heels.

Another embodiment includes and apparatus including decorative materials from the list above and placing them onto a boot, such as the UGG type boot, wherein the apparatus is attached to the front part of the shoe, with a post and cap, and is attached around the ankle of the user with a tie or clasp mechanism.

Yet another embodiment includes an apparatus for attaching to open toed shoes such as sandals wherein the decorative implements that reside on the top surface of the user's foot, further include magnetic properties which are capable of having a beneficial effect on the user's circulation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The principles of the present invention will be apparent with reference to the following drawings, in which like reference numerals denote like components:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a shoe enhancement contemplated in the present invention, when present on a sandal and the users foot.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a shoe enhancement contemplated in the present invention before placement onto a shoe and the users foot.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of an alternative shoe enhancement contemplated in the present invention, when present on a sandal and the users foot.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of another shoe enhancement contemplated in the present invention, wherein the shoe is a boot and the enhancement is attached to the boot.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of another shoe enhancement contemplated in the present invention, wherein the shoe is a high heel type shoe and the enhancement is attached to around the shoe and the users foot.

FIG. 6 is a side plan view of the shoe enhancement shown in FIG. 5, wherein the shoe is a high heel type shoe and the enhancement is attached around the shoe and the users foot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention contemplates the interface of jewelry with shoes to customize and provide a unique and more personalized look to mass produced footwear.

The embodiments of the invention allow the customization especially of footwear products that are relatively unadorned and plain. Examples of footwear to be customized and enhanced by the process are varieties of open-toed shoes including various high-heels, flats, sandals, flip-flops and water shoes. Sandals and flip-flops are most preferred.

Furthermore, the enhancements may be more than merely decorative and include health-related benefits such as increasing circulation with electromagnetic forces, or having elements placed on reflexology trigger points to help alleviate pain, stress, and/or increase circulation and general health. Based on the customization of the embodied enhancements beads, stones, magnets, crystals or other known materials with healing type properties can be secured such that the enhancements come into direct contact with specific surfaces on the wearer's foot and/or ankle.

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.

Examples and Description of Figures.

Embodiments of the invention for use with a flip-flop (thong) style sandal are shown in FIGS. 1-3. In FIGS. 1 and 2 the shoe enhancement apparatuses are attached to the shoe at a single point in the toe area, whereas in FIG. 3 an embodied shoe enhancement apparatus is attached in two places on the sandal strap. FIG. 1 shows an embodied shoe enhancement apparatus 100 comprising an ankle attachment implement 110 which is around the ankle of the user, a aesthetically enhanced implement 120 which resides primarily in the area on the top of the foot 140 of the user, and a shoe attachment implement 130 which attaches onto the sandal 150. The aesthetically enhanced implement 120 is attached to the ankle attachment implement 110 by a clasp 122 or other similar fastening device. The aesthetically enhanced implement 120 then comprises a plurality of functional implements 128 such as magnets crystals or reflexology materials and/or decorative implements 126 including beads, jewels, stones, crystals and the like. The aesthetically enhanced implement 120 connects to the shoe 150 of the user by having the shoe end 124 of the aesthetically enhanced implement 120 interface with the shoe attachment implement 130 at the enhanced implement shoe attachment connection point 132. The shoe attachment implement 130 in this figure is a loop portion 134 that secures around the thong 152 portion of the sandal 150.

FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodied shoe enhancement apparatus 200 comprising an ankle attachment implement 210 which fits around the ankle of the user, a aesthetically enhanced implement 220 which resides primarily in the area on the top of a foot (not shown) of the user, and a shoe attachment implement 230 which attaches onto a sandal (not shown). The ankle attachment implement 210 is secured around the foot by a ankle fastener 212, which may be any type of fastener or string or bow tied around the ankle of the foot. Additionally, the ankle attachment implement comprises decorative or functional enhancement features 214. The aesthetically enhanced implement 220 is attached to the ankle attachment implement 220 by a clasp 222 or other similar fastening device. The aesthetically enhanced implement 220 then comprises a plurality of functional implements 228 such as magnets crystals or reflexology materials and/or decorative implements 226 including beads, jewels, stones, crystals and the like. The aesthetically enhanced implement 220 connects to a shoe (not shown) of the user by having the shoe end 224 of the aesthetically enhanced implement 220 interface with the shoe attachment implement 230 at the enhanced implement shoe attachment connection point 232. The shoe attachment implement 230 in this figure is a loop portion 234 that secures around a portion of a sandal or around another post type fastening point (not shown).

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of another alternative shoe enhancement apparatus 300 comprising an ankle attachment implement 310 which fits around the ankle of the user, a aesthetically enhanced implement 320 which resides primarily in the area on the top of a foot 340 of the user, and two shoe attachment implements 330 which attaches onto the sandal strap 354 near the outside edges of the foot 340 of the user. Additional embodiments considered but not shown include shoe attachment implements 330 that may be secured around the thong 352 portion of the shoe (shown above) in addition to multiple strap shoe attachment implements 330 as currently shown. The aesthetically enhanced implement 320 is attached to the ankle attachment implement 320 by a clasp 312 or other similar fastening device. The aesthetically enhanced implement 320 then comprises a plurality of functional implements 328 such as magnets crystals or reflexology materials and/or decorative implements 326 including beads, jewels, stones, crystals and the like. The aesthetically enhanced implement 320 connects to the shoe 350 of the user in two places by having the two shoe ends 324 of the aesthetically enhanced implement 320 interface with the two shoe attachment implements 330 at the loop ends 334 of the shoe attachment implements 330. As shown in expanded view in FIG. 3A the shoe attachment implement 320 in this figure comprises a loop portion 334 that secures around a portion of a post type fastening point 336 which is passed through the sandal strap 354 and covered with a cap 338 which may or may not have additional decorative adornments as part of the cap 338.

Embodiments of the invention for use with a closed-toe shoe such as a boot, are shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows an embodied shoe enhancement apparatus 400 comprising an ankle attachment implement 410 which is around the ankle portion of the boot 450 of the user, a aesthetically enhanced implement 420 which resides primarily in the area on the top of the foot portion of the boot of the user, and a shoe attachment implement 430 which attaches onto the boot 450. The aesthetically enhanced implement 420 is attached to the ankle attachment implement 410 by a clasp 422 or other similar fastening device. The aesthetically enhanced implement 420 then comprises a decorative implements 426 including beads, jewels, stones, crystals and the like. The aesthetically enhanced implement 420 connects to the shoe 450 of the user at one (as shown) or more points (not shown) at the shoe end 424 of the aesthetically enhanced implement 420. The shoe attachment implement 420 in this figure comprises a loop portion (not shown) that secures around a portion of a post type fastening point (not shown) which is passed through the boot material and covered with a cap 438 which may or may not have additional decorative adornments as part of the cap 438.

Embodiments of the invention wherein the shoe enhancement apparatus 500 are used in a high-heel type open shoe arrangement are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 shows the shoe enhancement apparatus 500 in a top plan view and FIG. 6 shows the shoe enhancement apparatus 500 is a side plan view. In FIGS. 5 an 6 the embodied shoe enhancement apparatus 500 comprises an ankle attachment implement 510 which is around the ankle of the user and additionally comprises decorative implements 514, a aesthetically enhanced implement 520 which resides primarily in the area on the top of the foot 540 of the user, and a shoe attachment implement 530 which attaches around the foot 540 and shoe 550 in various places on the users foot, with the attachment around the middle portion of the foot 540 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The aesthetically enhanced implement 520 is attached to the ankle attachment implement 510 by two clasps 522 total, one on each side of the ankle. The aesthetically enhanced implement 520 then comprises one or more decorative implements 526 including beads, jewels, stones, crystals, ribbons, bows and the like. The aesthetically enhanced implement 520 connects around the shoe 550 of the user by having the shoe end 524 of the aesthetically enhanced implement 520 interface with the shoe attachment implement 530 at the enhanced implement shoe attachment connection point 532. The shoe attachment implement 530 in this figure is a loop portion 534 that secures around the foot 540 and shoe 550 of the user.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the above example, it will be understood that modifications and variations are encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is limited only by the following claims. 

1. A shoe enhancement and customization apparatus comprising: an ankle attachment implement; an aesthetically enhanced implement; and a shoe attachment implement; wherein the ankle attachment implement interfaces with the proximal end of the enhanced implement; and the shoe attachment implement interfaces with the distal end of the enhanced implement.
 2. The enhanced shoe apparatus of claim 1, wherein the enhanced implement comprises any combination of one or more jewels, stones, beads, ribbons, laces, threading, polished woods, crystals, glasses and metals.
 3. The enhanced shoe apparatus of claim 2, wherein the shoe to be enhanced is a sandal, a boot, or a high-heel shoe.
 4. The enhanced shoe apparatus of claim 3, wherein the shoe to be enhance is a sandal.
 5. The enhanced shoe apparatus of claim 4, wherein the ankle attachment implement in joined together around the ankle with a clasp, and wherein the shoe attachment implement attaches to the thong portion of a sandal with a loop.
 6. The enhanced shoe apparatus of claim 5, wherein the aesthetically enhanced implement includes one or more metal implements which have a magnetic charge capable of improving blood circulation properties within the foot.
 7. The enhanced shoe device of claim 3, wherein the shoe attachment implement attaches to the shoe with a post which pierces the shoe material and a cap mechanism which may be attached directly to the aesthetically enhanced implement, or the cap may secure a loop portion of the aesthetically enhanced implement onto the post.
 8. The enhanced shoe device of claim 7, wherein the shoe is a boot.
 9. The enhanced shoe device of claim 7, wherein the shoe attachment implement comprises more than one shoe attachment point.
 10. The enhanced shoe device of claim 9, wherein the shoe is a sandal. 